Big Question: Which First Round Match will be the most Lopsided?
When the World Cup draw was announced we were like most people out there. In addition to pleasantly dreaming of Heidi Klum for weeks afterward, we also dreamt of some of the classic games that we’ll see in the first round. But now that the tournament gets closer and the images of Ms. Klum fade from our minds, we’ve been looking at what we think are the biggest mismatches in group play. Will we see another 8-0 thrashing like Germany gave Saudi Arabia four years ago? Probably not. Nor will we likely see another 10-1 rout like the one Hungary put on El Salvador in 1982. But there’s bound to be a match or three that will turn out to be laughers.
Togo – France, Cologne, June 23
Making up for their failure to score in 2002, France is likely to have a spot in the second round locked up and Togo is likely to be on its way home. With neither team having anything to play for, France will pour it on against the World Cup debutants and pad their goal total.
Spain – Saudi Arabia, Kaiserslauten, June 23
Same scenario as Togo and France. Spain won’t reach eight goals, but it might get close.
One of the Group C matches
We’re not sure which one it will be, but one of the Group of Death matches will turn into a rout and will shatter the confidence of the losing team. Ah hell, we’ll say Ivory Coast smokes the Netherlands in Stuttgart on June 16 and the Dutch fail to recover turning the much anticipated match against Argentina into another snoozer.
Ecuador – Costa Rica, Hamburg, June 15
Sandwiched between loses to Poland and Germany, Ecuador’s offense will catch fire and give its fans a memorable thrashing of Costa Rica.
Those are our picks and we are standing by them until they don’t come true. When you look at the first round matches, which ones do you think will be bigger mismatches than Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas?
For the history inclined, here’s a list of largest victories in World Cup history:
1982 - Hungary v El Salvador 10-1
1954 - Hungary v South Korea 9-0
1974 - Yugoslavia v Zaïre 9-0
1938 - Sweden v Cuba 8-0
1950 - Uruguay v Bolivia 8-0
2002 - Germany v Saudi Arabia 8-0
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Comments
By zlatan | April 13th, 2006 at 3:56 am 
You are way off. France never rout anyone, group C is too evenly contested and the Ticos are more than a match for Ecuador - I could even see CR win that one, with a bit of luck. Spain might thrash the Saudis, though, if they need to.
No, the biggest victory will come in group B on June 10, when Sweden grind the hopes of the Soca Warriors under their big boots - Henrik bids his fondest farewell to international big time football and I (Zlatan) avenge a rather awful Juve season by scoring at least a brace.
So, SPA-KSA and SWE-T&T, That’s it, folks. And you read it here first.
Posted from 
Sweden
By Bidemi | April 13th, 2006 at 5:29 am I expect Germany vs. Costa Rica and (call me crazy) Brazil vs. Croatia to be the biggest thrashings.
And I agree with you on one of the group C matches being lopsided- but you were off by one team. It’s going to be Ivory Coast vs. Serbia Montenegro, with Didier and Kalou rampaging the Serbian defense. Serbia loves to play with power, and that will be the wrong thing going up against the brute strength of the Ivorians.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Dido | April 13th, 2006 at 7:43 am I dont think France will thrash Togo. I expect them to win 2-0 but no more than that. Meanwhile, Ecuador v Costa Rica will be a close match.
Posted from United Kingdom
By Pedro P | April 13th, 2006 at 7:51 am If S&M bases their game only in defense, they’ll have problems in group C. Because it all goes well until you suffer a goal. Then all you strategy must change. Then you’re lost if you can’t create chances and hold it at the same time. Last match is SM vs IVC, right…? 
Last match s’always special…
Brz & Cro…? Why? Both are very good. Brazil (arguably) better, usually do better, but surelly not 10 times better.
Posted from 
Netherlands
By Massimo | April 13th, 2006 at 12:05 pm If USA cannot beat Jamaica, I expect them to lose pretty badly against Italy. Another one will be Brazil-Japan. I respect Japan as a good team, the only good one in Asia, but they are gonna get it. I also wanna see Portugal kick the shit out of Angola. There’s too much talk about that game, and most of it is rubbish. If Angola doesn’t lose by more than 2 goals I will be surprised. Also people think Spain is gonna trash Saudi Arabia, but that’s only half the story. Saudi Arabia have it taugh and when they meet Ukraine first, they will be savaged.
Posted from 
United States
By Aboud | April 16th, 2006 at 6:43 am No man,serbia has one of the strongest defences.Spain could win over Saudi arabia by 4 goals but i predict the biggest recievers would be either T-N-T or Angola
Posted from 
Saudi Arabia
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